Dental speculum



April 16, 1935. G. G. LOWRY DENTAL SPECULUM Filed Nov. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sh'ee't 1 3 I 65076 flax/1y.

April 16, 1935. G. G. LOWRY DENTAL SPECULUM Filed Nov. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I v 3mm azye Patented Apr. 16, 1935 1,998,374

s PATENT OFFICE George G. Lowry, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor of one- I half to Samuel Lowry Henry, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application November 10, 1933, Serial No. 697,514

6 Claims. (01. 128-10) This invention relates to certainnew and use- Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view ful improvements in dental speculums. I taken on line 8-8- of Figure 1, showing the de- -The primary object of the invention is to tachable connection between the electric conprovide a dental speculum of receptacle or cup ductor and the speculum; e form with a flange :upon one'side to be posi- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a brace bar 5 tioned exte'riorly of the'cheek when'the' specu bridging the side walls of an opening in the lum is placed within the mouth of a person to speculum; i a act as a check compressor and for maintaining Figure 10 is a plan view-of the adjustable rethe mouth of a person in an open condition flector; and' UNITED [STATE 10 in a convenient manner and in the absence of Figure 11 is a perspective view of the tooth irritating or uncomfortable feelings or effects. clamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide Briefly described, the dental speculum is cona dental p m having a po tion of a side structed of metal treated, coated or polished to wall thereof removedfor the detachable recepa mirror finish which eliminates the use of the 5 tion of a tooth clamp for maintaining the specuordinary hand mirror usually employed by denlum in position within the mouth of a person. tists, The usual extraneous illuminating means I i a f r h r object f the ven i n to pr employed by dentists is eliminated by the presence V a dental Speculum 0f e foregoing charaeof a lamp within the speculum that includes an tel with illuminating means arranged interiorly djustable. reflector that may be conveniently t eof and further bo y h a va j cto positioned'for directing rays o-flight directly into 20 p an nt y a d t y w y th hands that part of the mouth or upon certain teeth of a dentist are free for dental' work and upon hi hthe dentist is working. The question eliminating the use of a mouth mirror and t e ofsaliva ejection during dental workis a serious r n ry manipulation of a saliva j ct r! one both 'to the den'tistand patient and these Aiurthel n important Object 0f the V objections are eliminated by the permanent at- 25' t n s t p v d a d n speculum wherein tachment of a saliva ejector to the speculum.

the conductor from a source of potential to the 11- Referfing more in detah t th accbmpmying um at n mea s Within the p u u is d drawings, there is illustrated a dental speculum taehable therefrom to permit Complete Sterilizadesignated in general by the reference character tion of the Speculum in steam or Other bathit": of cup-formation having upper and lower side 30 With the above an Other Objeets in VieW h walls 16 and I1 respectively, end walls I8 and 19 will become apparent as the nature of the invenrespectively nd bottom or rear wall 20, the tiOD. is better understood, the same consists in everal Walls being formed on sujta blecurves for the novel form, combination and arrangement the convenient support of the speculum, within of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown t mouth of person. A rearwardly directed 1 in the mp nying drawings and i m flange 2! is carried by the end wall l9, consti- In the drawin t tuting a check compressor when the speculum Figure 1 is a front elevational view of adental is Within t th of person, It is to be Speculum constructed in accordance h the understood that the cheek compressor flange 2| 40 p s t invention, sh w n th int rnall post may be positioned on either end of the speculum 40 tioned illuminating means and saliva ejector s t t t de i e may be constructed for m permanently Carried y the Speculum; sertion in either side of the mouth. A depression Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the specu- 2g is m d i the upper side lfi to provide a lu S ow the cheek eempreeeer flange fclearance or restful pocket for the reception oi ried thereby; the posterior teeth of the upper case or upper 45 Figure 3 is a rear elevational view; a dible, Figure 4 s another d elevatiehel V w; 5 Illuminating means is permanently. located Figure 5 is a bottom plan view showing the within the speculum and includes a conduit 23 guide flanges for the removable reception of the forming an integral part of walls of the speculum,

tooth clamp;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on several of the figures, one end of the conduit 23 line 66 of Figure 1, showing the adjustably being in communication with a lamp socket 24 in mounted reflector for the lamp bulb; the form of a tubular boss carried bythe bottom Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken or rear wall 20 of the speculum adjacent the end on line 1-'l of-Figure 1;

projecting outwardly of the'walls as illustrated in 50 wal1'i8 that is closed by a screw cap 25. The

other end of the conduit 23 terminates adjacent the end wall I9. An electric conductor 26 is permanently located within the conduit 23 with the wires at one end thereof in communication with the lamp base 21 of the lampbulb 28 that is seated in the tubular socket 24 as shown in Figures 6 and 8. The wires at the other end of the conductor 28 are placed in communication with a conductor 29 extending from a source of potential by means of a connector 30. It will be understood that the connector 3!! is readily detachable from the conduit 23 as shown in Figure 8, while the conductor 26 remains a permanent part of the speculum. An annular groove 3| is formed in the bottom or rear wall 20 of the speculum concentric with the lamp socket 24 and receives the end extension 32 upon the lamp refiector 33 that is of a curvature as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 6 and 10, the reflector 33 is circumferentially adjustable with respect to the lamp bulb'ZG for directing the rays of light onto a particular part of the mouth or tooth and said reflector is bowl shaped or arched to partly overlie the end of the lamp bulb to prevent direct glare of the lamp from passing to the eyes of the dentist.

To effectively retain the speculum within the mouth of a person, against movement, the speculurn is constructed for removable attachment of a tooth clamp, the lower side i! of the cup-shaped speculum being cut away and providing substantially parallel side walls bordering the cutaway opening that carry channel guides 34 for the detachable reception and support of a tooth clamping plate 35. The clamping plate is of ordinary construction and may be provided with one or more mating depressions 36 in opposite sides thereof for selective clamping engagement with a tooth or teeth. The clamping plate selected is determined by attachment to a tooth independently of the speculum and is then attached to the speculum when the device is inserted in the mouth of a person, a clamp forcep is engaged with the opening 3'! in opposite side portions of the clamping plate for expansion of the clamp during placement thereof on a tooth, the inherent flexible and resilient characteristic thereof effecting contraction about a tooth. The tooth clamp is readily detachable from the speculum to permit the substitution of a clamp of another, design whenever desired. a

To eliminate the presence of saliva in the mouth of a person during dental operations and the like, it is customary to place absorbent pads in the mouth and also a saliva ejector tube that is sus-v pended upon the lower lip of the mouth, this ejector tube being uncomfortable in use and in many instances interfering with the work of a dentist. The present invention embodies a saliva ejector that forms a permanent part of the speculumand is in the form of a conduit 38 of substantially U-shape that surrounds the cut-away portion receiving the tooth clamp, the ends of the conduit 38 projecting outwardly of the lower side I! and respectively provided with nipples 39 and G9. The nipple 39 is positioned exteriorly of the mouth when the speculum is disposed within the mouth and receives a rubber tube or the like forming communication with suction apparatus while the nipple) is positioned within the mouth and may carry a relatively short rubber tube 4| illustrated by dotted lines in Figure l to engage the bottom of the mouth for the effective ejection of saliva. r

The side wall of the cut-away portion of the 1 lower side I! or thespeculum may be braced by the arched bar 42 shown in detail in Figure 9 that is removably engaged with the lower side ll of the speculum as illustrated in Figures 1 and 6, but should it be determined that this brace bar offers an obstruction to the work of the dentist, the same may be removed.

It will be observed that several elements are cooperatively associated in a single combined structure so that the hands of the dentist are free for dental work alone, the speculum providing a restful support when placed within the mouth of a person without undue stretching of the cheeks and lips, the use of ahand mirror being eliminated by the mirror finish on the device while the illuminating means includes the reflector that is adjustable for directing light rays on that part of the mouth upon which the dentist is Working. Complete ejection of saliva is effected without the inconvenience of the usual lip supported hanging ejector and in addition, spurs or pins 34a depend from the'guide channels 34 for the support of cylindrical or other absorbent pads. The conductor 29 is detachable from the speculum to permit the latter to be bodily immersed in sterilizing solution for cleansing purposes. The speculum is preferably constructed of a metal light in weight to add to the comfort of a person upon whom the same is being used. 7

From the above detailed description of the device, it is believed that the construction and use thereof will at once be apparent, it beingnoted that the speculum provides a guard or shield that only exposes the teeth being worked upon so that the patients mouth is completely protected from contact with dental instruments and the like and injury of the mouth tissues is eliminated. While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1 In a device of the character described, a speculum, tooth anchor means detachably engaged therewith, a saliva ejector forming a permanent part of the speculum and illuminating means within the speculum, said speculum being of cup-formation, and a flange at one end of the speculum cooperating with the adjacent end wall of the speculum to form a check compressor, the saliva ejector including a tube of substantially U-shape with a nipple at each end projecting outwardly of the speculum for selective association with suction producing, means.

2. In a device of the character described, a speculum, tooth anchor means detachably engaged therewith, a saliva ejector forming a permanent part of the speculum, illuminating means within the speculum, the illuminating means comprising a conduit forming a permanent part of the speculum, a lamp socket in the bottom wall of the speculum, a lamp in the socket, aconductor in the conduit in communication with the lamp, said bottom wall having an annular groove concentric with the socket and a reflector shiftably mounted in the groove and overlying a portion of the outer end of the lamp. V

3. In a device of the character described, a speculum, tooth anchor means detachably engaged therewith, a saliva ejector forming a permanent part ,of the speculum and illuminating means within the speculum, said speculum being of cup-formation, a cheek-compressor flange at one end of the speculum, the illuminating means comprising a conduit forming a permanent part of the speculum, a lamp socket in the bottom wall of the speculum, a lamp in the socket, a conductor in the conduit in communication with the lamp, said bottom wall having an annular groove concentric with the socket and a reflector shiftably mounted in the groove and overlying a portion 'of the outer end of the lamp.

4. The combination with a speculum of substantially cup-shape, of tooth anchor means comprising the formation of an opening in a side wall of the speculum, a channel guide at each side of the opening and a tooth clamping plate removably mounted in the channel guides.

" 5. The combination with a speculum of substantially cup-shape, of tooth anchor means comprising the formation of an opening in a side wall of the speculum, a channel guide at each side of the opening and a tooth clamping plate removably mounted in the channel guides, and absorbent roll supporting pins carriedby the channel guides.

6. The combination with a speculum of substantially cup-shape, of illuminating means including a conduit forming a permanent part of the speculum, a lamp socket in the speculum with which the conduit communicates, an electric conductor in the conduit having the wires at one end extending into the socket, a lamp in the socket having electrical connection with the wires, 2, reflector rotatably adjustable relative to the lamp and a source of energy conductor detachably connected to the other end of the conduit in communication with the conductor therein.

GEORGE G. LOWRY. 

